With the launch of XUV 3XO, M&M eyes top position in the subcompact SUV segment in the next 3 years 

Launched at a starting price of Rs 7.49 lakhs, Mahindra & Mahindra (M&M) said that its new product portfolio will help it achieve a top spot in the subcompact SUV segment. "The subcompact segment sells around 6 lakh cars. We target to be either no.1 or no.2 in that segment in the next 3 years," Rajesh Jejurikar, ED & CEO, Auto & Farm Sectors, M&M. 

M&M was the largest SUV maker in FY24, surpassing market leader Maruti Suzuki with
4,59,000 unit sales. With the new launch, it's aiming to now capture a larger share of the compact SUV space.

It competes with the likes of the Maruti Brezza, Hyundai Venue, Kia Sonet, and Tata Nexon. 

XUV 3XO's top-end model goes up to Rs 15.49 lakh. Inspired by Mahindra’s upcoming BE family of electric SUVs, the XUV 3XO gets a major update to its features including superior drivetrain options, robust Level 2 ADAS features, a comprehensive suite of safety equipment, etc. 

"The XUV 3XO exemplifies Mahindra's dedication to blending top-tier safety, cutting-edge technology and thrilling performance with standout design. Built on a durable, well-tested platform, it is engineered to meet the highest global safety standards, including the B-NCAP," said R Velusamy, President, Automotive Technology and Product Development, M&M. 

He added that the XUV 3XO also meets the benchmarks established by XUV700 – offering best-in-class forward visibility and the quietness of its gasoline variant is comparable to that of the gasoline. 

It comes with three engine choices, two petrol units and one diesel mill, paired to an automatic, or a manual gearbox. It will have 35 safety features including vehicle dynamics control, roll over mitigation, hill hold control, hill descent control and electronic brake prefill. It will have an initial production capacity of 9000 units per month. 

"Thar is built in the Nashik plant and the XUV3XO is going to be built in the same plant. We're likely to end this year with being the second-largest passenger vehicle company by revenue in India," Jejurikar said. 

According to Nalinikanth Gollagunta, CEO of M&M’s Automotive Division, it's priced aggressively for a new set of customer. "We want to target a new set of customers, someone who wants to upgrade from a hatch to a true SUV. For them, we have our entry-level variant which has a 18.89 km/l fuel efficiency. Then there are other variants that target customers who want a higher set of first-in-segment technological features like Adrenox features, twin 26.03 cm HD screens, wireless Android Auto & Apple Carplay, and built-in Alexa, etc. Price segmentation has been done keeping these specific audiences in mind," he adds.